Penny Lu Porcupine

Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale May 07, 2024 | 32 Pages | 978-0-593-32627-5
A cautious porcupine summons the courage to stand up to threats both real and imagined, reassuring readers that they, too, can face their fears.

Like all porcupines, Penny Lu is nearsighted. So while her incredible sense of smell leads her to all sorts of yummy food, predators can be hard to spot. Thankfully, she has another feature that’s quite amazing—her pointy quills! Even when she’s scared, they make her look powerful. But sometimes Penny Lu doesn’t feel powerful. And she wonders what she’d do if she came face-to-face with the predator she fears the most—THE BEAR! With its rollicking, rhyming text and adorable art, Penny Lu Porcupine will charm readers and reassure them that they too can face their fears.
Katie Gilstrap (KatieGilstrap.com), author of Spacemanatee! and the forthcoming Finnegan Fox, is a wildlife advocate and former veterinary technician from south-central Kansas. Diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at an early age, Katie strives to celebrate neurodiversity in children’s literature by writing kid-friendly books that inspire confidence, courage, and self-acceptance.

Maribel Lechuga (MaribelLechuga.com) is a freelance illustrator from Madrid, Spain. Her previous picture books include Ten Beautiful Things (by Molly Beth Griffin), What’s in Your Pocket? (by Heather L. Montgomery), and Seaside Stroll (by Charles Trevino). She loves nature, animal watching, hiking, and a good conversation.

About

A cautious porcupine summons the courage to stand up to threats both real and imagined, reassuring readers that they, too, can face their fears.

Like all porcupines, Penny Lu is nearsighted. So while her incredible sense of smell leads her to all sorts of yummy food, predators can be hard to spot. Thankfully, she has another feature that’s quite amazing—her pointy quills! Even when she’s scared, they make her look powerful. But sometimes Penny Lu doesn’t feel powerful. And she wonders what she’d do if she came face-to-face with the predator she fears the most—THE BEAR! With its rollicking, rhyming text and adorable art, Penny Lu Porcupine will charm readers and reassure them that they too can face their fears.

Author

Katie Gilstrap (KatieGilstrap.com), author of Spacemanatee! and the forthcoming Finnegan Fox, is a wildlife advocate and former veterinary technician from south-central Kansas. Diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at an early age, Katie strives to celebrate neurodiversity in children’s literature by writing kid-friendly books that inspire confidence, courage, and self-acceptance.

Maribel Lechuga (MaribelLechuga.com) is a freelance illustrator from Madrid, Spain. Her previous picture books include Ten Beautiful Things (by Molly Beth Griffin), What’s in Your Pocket? (by Heather L. Montgomery), and Seaside Stroll (by Charles Trevino). She loves nature, animal watching, hiking, and a good conversation.

Books for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May we celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Browse a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators that we think your students will love. Find our full collection of titles for Higher Education here.

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